HARRISBURG, PA — Harrisburg University of Science & Technology (HU) is celebrating 20 Academic Years! Students are returning to campus and the downtown as a new school year kicks off in earnest. The HU community was thrilled to welcome both the first-time students and the transfer students of the Class of 2029 during a busy move-in week and a series of student ice-breaker events across campus.
Founded just two decades ago with a radical vision to create a university dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship, discovery, and opportunity, Harrisburg University has quickly grown into one of the region’s leading institutions for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education – and an economic and cultural anchor in Harrisburg’s downtown.
This year’s incoming class marks another milestone in that journey. Students from across the country and the globe have chosen Harrisburg University as the place where they will learn, innovate, and build the future.
- Class size: 121 first-time students, 27 transfer students.
- 13 US states & DC represented: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.
- The Class of 2029 hails from 8 countries: The DCR, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the United States.
- Top 3 majors: The most popular fields of study for the Class of 2029 are Computer & Information Sciences, Forensics, and Game Design.
Altogether – with a helping hand from parents, relatives, and student ambassadors – nearly 400 new and returning Harrisburg University undergraduate students have come back to downtown Harrisburg to attend classes. Most HU undergraduates reside in student housing within no more than two blocks from the main campus building, located at 326 Market Street. Approximately 45% of students live on campus, while the rest of the population commutes.
“As we celebrate our Twentieth Academic Year, it’s remarkable to see how far Harrisburg University has come – and it’s awe-inspiring to see the energy this new class brings back to the city,” said John Champoli, Vice President of Enrollment at Harrisburg University. “Our students represent the promise of the future. They are curious, motivated, and eager to solve the challenges that matter most in our communities and in our world.”
The beginning of the fall semester brings a renewed sense of excitement to the university’s downtown campus, where students are steps away from government, business, and technology leaders. This unique location provides students with opportunities for hands-on learning in organizations of state and national importance, internships with major innovators and employers of first choice, and partnerships that prepare them to thrive in today’s competitive workforce.
In keeping with its mission to expand access to STEM education, Harrisburg University continues to emphasize accessibility, affordability, and real-world readiness. The Class of 2029 will benefit from expanded Student Success services, new laboratory and advanced manufacturing facilities, and strengthened partnerships with leading employers in healthcare, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable technology.
“It’s incredible to be here, still watching as this university takes shape around us. Twenty years isn’t that long in university terms. But we’re still here because we’re not just preparing students for jobs – we’re preparing them to lead, to create, and to transform the world,” said Dr. Kevin Purcell, Provost and Chief Academic Officer. “The Class of 2029 joins us at a historic moment in the university’s story, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what they will achieve.”
As students settle into classrooms, laboratories, and collaborative workspaces, the message is clear: the next 20 years start now, and the Class of 2029 is ready to make its mark.
Move-In Week
First Day of Classes
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s most innovative colleges for 2025. HU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, and other health science fields. For additional information about HU’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please reach out to Dan Wilhelm, Communications Manager for Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, with all media inquiries.
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